SOCIAL LIFE.

No evidence exists on which to
base an account of the social life of Swindon before
the arrival of the railway. Record of two pastimes
only has survived. These were bull-baiting and
backsword-playing, both of which took place in the
Market Square. (fn. 1) Bull-baiting was dying out by
the beginning of the 19th century, but experienced
a brief revival when the opening of the Wilts. and
Berks. Canal brought new life to the town. (fn. 2) The
last bull-baiting was, however, in c. 1810. (fn. 3) Swindon,
according to Morris, was renowned for its backsword-playing, a sport hardly less ferocious than
bull-baiting. (fn. 4) The last great bout was fought in
1841 on a stage erected in the fields at the foot of
Eastcott Hill. The contestants were the brothers,
James and Thomas Edwards, who fought to celebrate the opening of the G.W.R. line to Swindon
and their own success in a lawsuit. (fn. 5) Of the gentler
pursuits of the inhabitants no evidence has survived,
although Morris writes at some length about the
mummers who, early in the 19th century, visited
the villages and towns of north Wiltshire. (fn. 6)

The social amenities of Old Swindon could not
possibly provide for the needs of the new town, so
suddenly planted on its outskirts. But the immigrants, who formed the first railway colony, were
without common social traditions and lacked the
means to organize such amenities for themselves. It
fell, therefore, to the G.W.R. Company to provide
the first facilities for social life and welfare in the
new town. Within five years of the erection of the
first workmen's cottages, a school and a church had
been built, largely with funds from the G.W.R. (fn. 7) In
1847 the G.W.R. Medical Fund Society was
started. (fn. 8) Its foundation was largely due to Daniel
(later Sir Daniel) Gooch, locomotive superintendent
at Paddington, who was in complete charge in
Swindon, although he never lived in the town. The
original object of the society was to provide medicine
and attendance for the men employed in the G.W.R.
works and their families. Archibald Sturrock,
manager of the Swindon works, was the society's
first president. In the early days the society offered
little more than the services of the company's
salaried surgeon. But over the years it acquired
practically all the facilities needed for a general
health service, so that by 1948 its hospital, outpatient departments, and clinics could deal with
most of the medical needs of about 40,000 Swindon
people.

The first sign of a wish for some form of cultural
amenity in the new town seems to have come in 1843
when a few G.W.R. employees started a very
modest library among themselves. (fn. 9) The following
year, with the approval of the G.W.R. Company, a
Mechanics' Institution was established with the
object of 'disseminating useful knowledge and encouraging rational amusement'. Membership in the
early months was 15 and the library contained 150
books. Gooch was the institute's first president. All
activities took place in the works; part of 'O' shop
in the locomotive department was used for theatricals, and dancing and other amusements were held
in one of the paint shops. By the end of the first year
membership was 129 and the library had 522 books,
with a circulation of 80 volumes a week. In 1851
there were 500 members, over 2,000 books, and 60
pupils attending educational classes. Two years
later the New Swindon Improvement Company
was formed to build a centre which would include
not only a library and lecture rooms, but also baths,
refreshment rooms, and, at the rear of the building,
a covered market and a few shops. (fn. 10) A site in the
middle of the G.W.R's housing estate was leased by
the company at a nominal rent, and the company
agreed to subscribe £100 a year towards the improvement company's activities. The building was
completed by 1855.

When the baths were moved in 1864, and the
refreshment rooms in 1890, the extra space thus
gained was used by the Mechanics' Institute for its
educational classes, and in 1890, by which time the
market and shops had outgrown their usefulness,
the property was transferred from the improvement
company to the Mechanics' Institute. Between
1890 and 1893 the buildings were much enlarged.
After 1891 the institute no longer had responsibility
for providing technical education, (fn. 11) but it continued
as a cultural and recreational centre. Until 1943 its
library, which that year had branches at Rodbourne
and Gorse Hill, and held over 30,000 books, was
the only public library in Swindon. In 1930 the
centre of the building was badly damaged by fire
and was rebuilt to provide a theatre, known as the
Playhouse, with a dance hall below. After the
nationalization of the railways British Railways continued to support the Mechanics' Institute, (fn. 12) but
with the social and economic changes of the postwar period its importance in the life of the town
declined markedly. In 1959 the building was adapted
to accommodate the British Rail Staff Association. (fn. 13)
The library was closed in 1961. (fn. 14)

The original building erected in Emlyn Square
for the Mechanics' Institute was designed in a
Tudor style by Edward Roberts and was built of
Swindon stone with Bath stone dressings. (fn. 15) The
main block was of two stories although externally
giving the appearance of a single great hall with
buttressed sides of eight bays. At its north end was
an arcaded porch flanked by octagonal and embattled turrets. This part of the building, altered
internally, survived in 1965. To the south was a
two-storied cross-wing containing the reading room.
The upper stories were altered and rebuilt after the
fire of 1930. Beyond the wing was the low octagonal
market, surmounted by a conical roof and spired
turret. The additions of 1890–3, which extended
over the site of the market, are built of darker stone
and are designed in a more sophisticated Tudor
style.

One of the earliest privileges offered to members
of the Mechanics' Institute was a day excursion to
Oxford in the summer of 1849. Each member was
allowed to take a companion with him on the outing
and on this occasion 500 people travelled in the
special train. (fn. 16) This was the beginning of an annual
event in Swindon known as 'Trip'. Until 1913 it was
a day excursion, but that year the holiday, which was
unpaid, was extended to one week. (fn. 17) Weymouth
was a popular resort for the 'Trip' holiday-makers at
this period, and it was reckoned that some 25,000
travelled somewhere on the free 'Trip' trains. (fn. 18) For
weeks before money was saved for the holiday. (fn. 19) In
1939 27,000 people left Swindon for the holiday in
30 special trains. (fn. 20) In 1946 the holiday was extended
to two weeks' paid holiday. (fn. 21) The 'Trip' holiday
takes place during the first two weeks in July and,
so long as the G.W.R. was virtually the only employer of labour in the town, it meant that almost
the whole of Swindon was on holiday during this
time. With the arrival of other industries with
different holiday arrangements, the 'Trip' holiday
period lost some of its importance.

Another annual event connected with the
Mechanics' Institute was the juvenile fête. This was
held annually, except during the war years, between
1868 and 1939 in the Park. (fn. 22)

The amenities of the Mechanics' Institute, backed
by the resources of the G.W.R., presumably tended
to outshine the social activities of the old town. But
no doubt the usual activities of a small country town
continued, regardless of any new attractions which
the railway town might have to offer. In the 1860s
weekly Penny Readings were held in the Town Hall
with A. L. Goddard as their patron. (fn. 23) The talent,
according to Frederick Large, was almost entirely
local, and proceeds went to local good causes. (fn. 24)
Large also writes of numerous dramatic and other
popular forms of entertainment held in the Corn
Exchange in the old town. (fn. 25)

The G.W.R. Company, as has been shown,
catered for some of the most important social and
cultural needs of its first employees in Swindon, but
organizations, not connected in any way with the
works, quickly began to establish themselves. The
various churches and chapels, which grew up as the
town developed, obviously played an extremely important part in creating a sense of community and
providing centres for social gatherings. The
Friendly Society movement seems to have appeared
in the town as early as 1840, just before the railway
works were established. (fn. 26) That year a few members
of the Oddfellows came to Swindon from other
parts of Wiltshire to prospect. The first lodge to be
opened in Swindon was the Mackies Good Intent
Lodge which had nine members. A second lodge
was opened in 1842 and the Ancient Order of
Foresters was established in the town by 1843. From
these beginnings the movement grew quickly in
Swindon and by the early 20th century, besides the
Oddfellows and Foresters, well over a dozen societies
were active. By 1920 the Oddfellows had 19 lodges
and the Foresters about the same number of courts
and some 22 other societies were represented in the
town. (fn. 27)

A Swindon Co-operative Society was founded in
1850 with a small shop specializing in the sale of
bread. (fn. 28) Twelve years later the New Swindon
Industrial Co-operative Society was formed by a
group that was dissatisfied with the original society,
and in 1880 a third society was formed called the
Kingshill Co-operative Society. (fn. 29) In 1965 only the
New Swindon Industrial Co-operative Society
survived.

As far as is known, the first workingmen's club in
Swindon was the Bridge Street Club which was
established in 1880. (fn. 30) By 1904 this club had a
membership of 1,600. Soon after the formation of
the Bridge Street Club similar clubs were started at
Gorse Hill and Even Swindon and by the beginning
of the 20th century there were 21 clubs affiliated to
the Swindon and District Branch of the London
Club and Institute Union. Most of these clubs
offered some sort of social security such as sickness
benefit as well as the usual kinds of recreational
facilities. In 1948 there were still 27 workingmen's
clubs, many of which dated from the end of the
19th century. (fn. 31) In 1965 there were at least 20 clubs
in the town. (fn. 32) By 1910 Swindon seems to have been
fairly well supplied with those recreational and
sporting clubs usual in a working-class community.
The Swindon Town Football Club was formed in
1881 and the Swindon Rugby Club in 1895. (fn. 33) There
was a town cricket club by the middle of the 19th
century. (fn. 34) In 1910 there were also 11 cycling clubs,
2 gymnastic societies, a swimming club, and 4 brass
bands. (fn. 35)

Soon after its formation in 1903 the Swindon
Education Committee arranged for university extension lectures to be held in the town. (fn. 36) They were
organized in conjunction with Oxford University
and, in conjunction with Bristol University, were
still part of the programme of adult cultural
activities in 1966. A branch of the Workers' Educational Association was formed in 1908 after a visit
from Albert Mansbridge. (fn. 37) The first classes were
held by R. V. Lennard, of Wadham College,
Oxford, in the Higher Elementary School in Euclid
Street. (fn. 38) For these 26 members enrolled (fn. 39) but by
1930 membership of the W.E.A. in Swindon
was 500. (fn. 40)

The early success of both the university extension
lectures and the W.E.A. was very largely due to the
enthusiasm of Reuben George (d. 1936). (fn. 41) George
came to Swindon from Gloucester as a young man
and worked there as agent for the Wesleyan and
General Insurance Company for the rest of his life.
His main interest, however, lay in social and political
work. The formation of the Swindon Labour Party
in 1916 owed much to him and he was one of the
first three Labour candidates to stand for Parliamentary election in Wiltshire. He was a member of
the Swindon Town Council from the time of the
borough's incorporation and was mayor in 1921–2. (fn. 42)
Alfred Owen Williams (1877–1930), the poet and
writer, who lived and died at South Marston, was
also a member of the Swindon branch of the W.E.A. (fn. 43)

A theatre for Swindon was built in 1898 at the
corner of Groundwell Road and Clarence Street.
Its architects were Messrs. Drake and Pizey of
Bristol. (fn. 44) It was called at first the Queen's Theatre,
could accommodate 1,600, and opened with a
performance of 'Dick Whittington'. (fn. 45) The theatre's
name was later changed to the Empire and between
1929 and 1947 it was used as a cinema. (fn. 46) It was
demolished in 1959. (fn. 47) The first cinema in Swindon
was the County Electric, built in 1910. Four other
cinemas were opened within the next five years.
Three were built between the two World Wars. (fn. 48)
Only two remained open in 1966. (fn. 49)

Swindon's first newspaper appeared in 1854. (fn. 50) Its
founder was William Morris (d. 1891), who was
educated in the town and became its first historian.
His paper, the Swindon Advertiser and Monthly
Record, was at first issued monthly. The first
number contained four pages. It became a weekly
paper in 1855 when the stamp duty on newspapers
was repealed. In the early issues about half the space
was devoted to advertising. The remainder was said
to be confined to reports which 'do not partake of a
political, party, or personal character'. The paper,
however, consistently advocated a progressive policy
and in the course of its career was involved in several
libel actions. It was said that if there was anything
approaching a Liberal party in Swindon it came into
being with the foundation of the Advertiser. In 1870
it was re-named the Swindon Advertiser and Wiltshire, Berkshire and Gloucestershire Chronicle. It was
last issued as a weekly newspaper in December 1925
and thereafter became an evening paper called the
Evening Advertiser. (fn. 51) After the death of William
Morris the paper was conducted by his sons for some
years. (fn. 52) In 1920 it was acquired by the Swindon
Press Ltd. and in 1956 by Wiltshire Newspapers
Ltd. (fn. 53) The Swindon Press, however, remained the
general printing company and both companies came
under the ownership of the Westminster Press and
Provincial Newspapers Ltd.

Another newspaper, the North Wilts. Herald, with
a more conservative viewpoint, was started in
Swindon in 1861. (fn. 54) It was designed to cater more
for the surrounding countryside than did the
Advertiser, and between 1866 and 1879 absorbed
three small local papers. (fn. 55) In 1882 it produced a
daily evening edition, and between 1865 and 1881
there was also a market edition. (fn. 56) In 1922 control
of the Herald passed from the Piper family, who had
held it since 1865, to the Swindon Press Ltd. In
January 1942 the name of the North Wilts. Herald
was changed to the North Wilts. Herald and
Advertiser, and in April 1950 became the Wiltshire
Herald and Advertiser. Since October 1956 it has
appeared weekly as the Wiltshire Gazette and
Herald.

A third newspaper, the New Swindon Express, had
a short career from 1876 to 1880, (fn. 57) and the Borough
Press, a Saturday evening sheet, reporting football
news, was issued between 1904 and 1930. A weekly
paper, the Swindon Echo, published by E. H. Perkins
and Son, and printed by Papers and Publications
(Printers), Ltd., was first issued in 1962. It ceased
publication in 1966. (fn. 58)

As has been shown above, after about the middle
of the 19th century there were two Swindons—
the old market town and the new town created
during the 1840s by the G.W.R. Company. Since
roughly the middle of the 20th century a third
Swindon may be said to have been created with the
building of the suburban estates in the north and
east. (fn. 59) Here, as was the case in New Swindon a
hundred years earlier, the new community was
largely made up of people who came from other
parts of the country. Between the passing of the
Town Development Act of 1952 and 1965 some
14,000 people came to Swindon from London alone,
while considerable numbers came from other parts
on their own initiative. (fn. 60)